Train-lighting system



40 ard for railway train lighting. Under nor- Patentcd. July 27, 1926.

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UNITED STATES PATENT o l 1,593,966 FFICE. Y

JEsvsEn. DAvIsJ, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. r A

TRAIN-LIGHTING sYsTEM.

Application mea august 13, 1925. serial No; 50,006. y

\ This invention relates to electrical train lighting systems and providesa simple system having a number of important advantages.

Under normal conditions the train is lighted from a generator on the locomotive. This eliminates the need for storage batteries on the individual cars, such as are customarily provided where axle driven generators are used.` When the train is standing in a station or yard and is disconnected from the locomotive, the vcarsmaybe lighted by current derived from an ordinary city lighting c1rcuit. When a car equipped according to my system is connected with a car equippedl with storage batteries or with storage bat- Jterles and an axle driven generator, the first named car may derive its lighting current from the batteries of the other car.l

Generally stated, I provide throughout the train a primary feeder circuit which distributes throughout the train alternating curv rent at a voltage available at stations and yards along the line. Under ordinary conditions this would be 110 volts. The 'primary feeder circuit is connected from carl to car in ,a known .manner and each car is provided with'a receptacle capable of being feeder circuit extending the 'length of connected with current sources in the stat1ons and yards. When a tram of cars 1s connected together it may be lfed with alternating current at'llO volts from a generator on the locomotive or by a feeding connection 1n a station or yard connected to the recep- 1 tacle on any of the cars in the train. Single cars may be similarly fed.

J The lighting circuit on the car is operated at a lower voltage, preferably cause this is the lighting voltage now standmal conditions the lighting circuit on each car receives its current from the secondary of -a transformeren thatcar whose primary is excited by the primary feeder circuit, eitherl from the generator on the locomotive or from the city circuit, as the case may be.

In order to permit this lighting circuit to be fed on occasio by 30 volts. direct current lderived `from the batteries of an adjacent Acar having'batteries or generator and batteries, I provide on each car a low voltage the `car and provided with connectors at each end so that the car may under special circumstancesI be electrically connected to such battery equipped car. A double-pole, double,-

3() volts, be-` throw relay is provided and so arranged that when the primary feeder circuit is excited, the car lighting circuit willh be connected with the secondary of the transformer.- O n the other hand, if the low voltage direct current circuit on the car be excited, then the relay will shift and connect thelighting circuit of the car to such low voltage circuit. The two circuits are never excited simultaneously.

These arrangements vprovide for lighting 'Y the car. eitherfrom the locomotive or from a city alternating current circuitor from an adjacent car or cars having 'low voltage battery systems. To provide for the rare cases when none of these sources is available, I propose `to provide' each car with an emergency lighting circuit which is li hted by a battery. This circuit may be o any desired 'voltage andthe battery may be charged in any desired manner. The emergency circuit is so connected that it is controlled, iirst by the switch which controls the main lighting circuit, and second by a relay subject' to the condition of the main lighting circuit and so arranged that whenever the main lighting' circuit is energized the emergency circuit will be interrupted.

The system makes use of standard apparatus for the most part and hence is illusat 6, the tender at 7, a baggage car at 8 and.

a passenger car at 9. On the locomotive there islocateda 30 volt D. C. generator 10.

ThisI furnishes all the currentl used' on the locomotive, such as that for lighting the headlight l1, cab lights 12 and for any other light or electrical apparatus, such as air brakes, cab signal equipment, and the like which is, or This ydetail conforms to present standard practice.

In addition to the generator 10 I provide may be, used on locomotives.`

a 110 volt A.. C. generator 13. Preferably I drive both the generators 10 and 13 by a steam turbine 14 which receives its motive steam from the locomotive boiler. From the andlocated at opposite sides of the car as a` matter of convenience. Y

' In addition to the primary feeder Acircuit just described, each car is equipped with two wires 19 and 2O which form the low voltage direct currentfeeder circuit for bringing direct current to cars equipped with my system from adjacent battery lighted cars in case of need. These conductors 19 and 20 are equipped at each end of the car with connectors 21 which are so designed that they may not be co nected by mistake with the connectors 17 a ready described.

The train circuits having now been described, the equipment on a single car will be described with the understanding that this equipment is duplicated on each car.

The primary feeder circuit conductors 15 and 16 are connected to the primary winding 22 of a transformer whose secondary winding is indicated at 23. The terminals of the secondary winding 23 are connectedto two contacts 24 and 25 of what may be called a double-pole, double-throw relay. This includes opposed contacts 26 and 27 which are electrically connected respectively with the low voltage direct current conductors 19 and 20. There are two contactors 28 and 29 which are pivoted so that they swing between the opposed pairs of contacts and they are electrically actuated so that they swing in unison. The contactor 28 is connected to a shiftable armature or core 30 and the contactor 29 is connected to a similar shiftable armature or core 31. Both these armatures are subject to the influence of the windings 32 included in a shunt circuit energized by the secondary 23 of the transformer, and also to the influence of the windings 33 which are included in a shunt circuit connected betweenthe low voltage vdirect current conductors 19 and 20. The low voltage direct current conductors are energized only when the primary circuit is inert, and vice versa. Consequently, if the primary circuit 15, 16 1s energized the secondary 23 of the transformer will be excited and the coils 32 will draw the contactors 28. 29 into contact with the terminals 24, 25. On the other hand, if

the low voltage direct current circuit 19, 2O is energized the coils 33 will draw the contactors 28, 29 into contact with the terminals 26 and 27. The contactors 28 and 29 are connected to control the leads 34 and 35 of the car lighting circuit. `'Ihe lights are shown at 36 and are in parallel between the leads. The manually operated switch 37 controls the lights.

The parts so far described provide for lighting the train from the locomotive or from a city circuit or from an adjacent car. The locomotive furnishes current to the primary circuit 15, 16. A 110 volt A. C. city lighting circuit may furnish current to one car or to a whole train of connected cars by connection to one receptacle 18. If neither of these sources of current is available, the low voltage feeder circuit may be connected to an adjacent car having a 30 volt battery lighting system, or to any other source of suitable voltage, by means of the connectors 21. The energization of the low voltage feeder circuit shifts the contactors 28, 29 against the contacts 26 and 27 (the position shown in Fig. 3), and the car lights are then lighted by current supplied by the low voltage feeder circuit.

To provide for cases when none of the three sources of current just mentioned is available, I may equip each car with a small storage battery 38 and an auxiliary lightying circuit including the lead 35, switch 37, emergency lead '39 and lights 40. To prevent the simultaneous lighting of both sets of lights I introduce into the circuit a relay switch. This consists of a contactor 41 urged to a position in which it bridges the contacts 42 and drawnaway from the contacts 42 upon the excitation of a winding 43. This winding 43 is connected between the leads 34 and 35. Thus when the main lighting circuit is energized either by direct or alternating current, the contactor 41 moves away from the contacts 42 and interrupts When the the emergency lighting circuit. main lighting circuit is de-energized, the relay contacter 41 will drop and close the emergency lighting circuit which will thereupon by lighted, if or when the switch 37 is closed.

In addition to the general availability of different sources of current the system has the advantage that the car lighting circuits operate at the standard car lighting voltage so that it is possible to convert existing equipment without undue expense. Converted equipment is available for use with existing equipment having batteries at least to a limited extent. The use of a relatively high voltage in the main train circuit permits the use of smaller train lineconductors and avoids the serious voltage drop which occurs in low voltage train lines. Finally the system oers an opportunity for pro- '65 ing-to that .of alternating, current sources feeding vrelationwith said lighting circuit.

V said gressive conversion Vwithout serious inconvenience to a train lighting system in which the use of .any but very smallbatteries is unnecessary. -The desirability 'of such a system, and the large amounts already invested in battery systems, makes this an important factor in thepractical availability of mysystem.

The invention may be embodied in various specificallydiii'erent forms, and particularly' it is possible to avail of any desired vo tages. Those suggested have peculiar `advantages under the .conditions now existing on American railroads and for that 'rea'- son are preferred.

What 1s claimed 1s:-

A 1. Iny a train lighting system, the combinationl with a railway train of a relatively high tension. feeder line extendingv the length of the various cars and having connectors for establishing the :feeder vcircuit through a series o f cars; a relatively. low tension feeder line extendingthe length of the various cars and having connectors for connecting said low tension circuit of any of said cars to a circuit\on another car; `a lighting circuit on each car operating at low tension; transforming means for' reducing the tension of energy from said high tension line`to'the tension at which said lighting circuit operates; and automatic t switching means operable reversely upon the energization of the high tension feeder` l1ne and upon the energization of' said low tension feeder line and servingto'connect selectively eitherfline, when energized, into 2. In.a train'lighting system, the combination with a railway 'train ofa relatively high tension A. C. feeder lineextending the length of the'various cars and having connectors for establishing the feeder cir-iv cuit through a series of-cars; a relatively low tensionv feeder line extending the length of the various-cars and haying con- `nectors for connecting said low tensiQn cir-A cuit of any ofsaid` cars another car; a lighting circuit on each car operating at said low tension a transformer havingiits primaryv connected with said high tension feeder line and its secondary ar-. ranged to deliver current at the ten-v sion under which said li hting circuit o'p-\ crates; and automatic s itching means operable reversely upon the energizationof said .high tension feeder line' and upon the energization ofsaid low tension feeder line,v and serving to connect .selectively either Ffeeder `line,. when energized-, into 'feeding relation with said lighting circuit,v

8. In a train lighting system, the combination with a locomotive'and train of an A. C. generator on the locomotive arranged to deliver current at a' voltagecorrespondto `a circuit on along therailway; a feeder line extending from said generator throughoutthe train; connections whereby said line may be connectedto other alternating current sources; a relatively low tension feeder line extending the length ofthe various cars andhaving connectors for connecting saidlow tensioncircuit of any of said cars to a circuit on another car; a lighting circuit on each car operating yat said low tension; a transformer having its primary connected with said high tension feeder line and its secondary arranged to deliver current at the tension under which said lighting circuitoperates; and automatic switching means operable reversely upon the energization of said high tension feeder.l line and upon the energization of said low tension feeder line, and serving` to connect selectively eitherfeeder line, when energized, intov feeding relation with said lighting circuit.

4. In atrain lighting system;y the-com bination with a locomotive and train of an f/former having ,its primary'cbnnected lwithl said hightension feeder line and its secondary arranged to deliver current at thev tension under which saidNS lighting circuit operates; automatic switching means operable reversely upon the energization of said high tension feeder line and' upon-the energizationof line, when energized, into feeding relation with said lighting circuit; anemergency lighting circuit; a battery for feedingthe same; a switchy controlling both :said lighting circuits; and an electrically actuated switchv controlling said emergency circuit and operable by the energization of the first named lighting circuit to open the emergency lighting circuit.

f5. The combinationwith a 'railway-'car o high tension feeder line extending the length ofthe car and having connectors for establishing the feeder circuit through i a series of'connected cars; a relativelyl low (saidlowtension feeder line, and'l serving to connect selectively either feeder an electric lighting system including a tension feeder line extending Athe lengthof` f the car .and having 'connectors for connecting said low tension circuit with anotherV car 13o ating at said low tension; transformingor cars; a lightingcircuit on saidcalr opermeans for reducing the tension of energy from said high tension line; and automatic switching means operable reversely upon the energization of the high tension feeder -line and upon the energization of said low tension feeder line, and serving to connect selectively either line, when energized, into feeding relation with said lighting circuit.

6. The combination with a railway car of an electric lighting system including a high tension feeder line extending the length of the car' and having connectors for establishing the feeder circuit through av series ofl connected cars; connections whereby sald l1ne may be connected to current sources on the permanent way; a relatively low tension feeder line extending the length of the car and having connectors for connecting said low tension circuit with another car or cars; a lighting circuit on said car operating at said low tension; transforming means for reducing the tension of energy from said high tension line; and automatic switching means operable reversely upon the ehergization of the high tension feeder line and upon the energization of said low tension feeder line, and serving to connect selectively either line, lwhen energized, into feeding relation with said lighting circuit.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JESSE H. DAVIS. 

